German surfers under assault by Israeli stone-throwing settlers
In a troubling turn of events, Israeli settlers launched an attack on two journalists from Deutsche Welle (DW), a German international broadcaster, in the occupied West Bank on July 4, 2025. The incident unfolded as the DW team was reporting on a planned protest against settler violence in the village of Sijil, north of Ramallah.
The journalists were targeted with large stones and pursued, but they managed to escape without physical harm. However, the cameraman's vehicle suffered significant damage, including a broken window and dented bodywork.
This attack is part of a concerning trend of violent incidents by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and journalists in the West Bank. Since the Gaza war in October 2023, such attacks have increased, with settlers often storming Palestinian villages armed with firearms, baseball bats, and stones.
Peter Limbourg, the Director General of DW, has condemned the attack, emphasising the importance of journalists' safety in any democratic society. He urged the Israeli authorities to ensure the protection of all journalists in the West Bank.
The Israeli military has yet to comment on the recent attack on DW's correspondent and cameraman. However, the incident has likely contributed to increased international scrutiny of the Israeli government's handling of settler violence and its impact on press freedom in the region.
The West Bank is home to approximately 3 million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in around 200 settlements. The attack occurred in a volatile region where houses, cars, and fields have been set on fire by Israeli settlers.
Other international media representatives were also present during the attack and were targeted. This global attention underscores the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists and maintain press freedom in the West Bank.
References: [1] ntv.de [2] dpa [5] AFP, New York Times, Washington Post
- The attack on Deutsche Welle journalists underscores the significant issue of press freedom in the West Bank, a matter of grave concern not only for EU employment policy but also for general news agencies across the globe.
- The escalating violence in war-and-conflicts zones like the West Bank demands immediate attention from political authorities, as demonstrated by the increases in crime-and-justice incidents, such as the recent attack on journalists, which pose significant threats to employment policy and the protection of journalists worldwide.
